[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 135 (Friday, September 23, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                     GLIDE PATH TO A HOLLOW FORCE?

  (Mr. KASICH asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KASICH. Mr. Speaker, the Washington Post reports today that the 
Navy has announced it is canceling paid drill for Navy reservists for 
at least the remainder of the month. Why did they cancel the training? 
There is no money left in the training budget. This situation is 
especially ironic because of our current occupation of Haiti, an action 
that the American people do not feel is in our national interest. That 
occupation will cost this country at least a quarter of a billion 
dollars by the end of this year with more costs into the future.
  The President has done nothing to allay the suspicion that his 
administration is starving the military of funds while at the same time 
sending them on risky, costly missions that are not relevant to the 
national security needs of our Nation. This is a prescription for a 
hollow military force. If the present trends continue, training will 
deteriorate, combat readiness will decline, and the willingness to 
reenlist will dwindle.
  In Desert Storm, our forces defeated the fourth largest army in the 
world in 100 hours. Why? Because they had the equipment, because they 
were trained to peak combat readiness, and they were given a clear 
mission.
  A little more than 3 years later, we are seeing the fabric of 
readiness begin to shred as a result of the administration's misguided 
defense cuts and a confused foreign policy. They better straighten it 
out.

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